Lisa’s Quadrille prompt over at the dVerse Poets Pub today asks us to play with “coax”—a word that feels gentle, but not innocent. It made me think about the times we’re tugged around by rumor, outrage, and intransigent certainty…and how maybe, just maybe, wisdom can still be coaxed to speak in these crazy times.
The rules for responding to the prompt are simple: write a poem of 44 words in any form and use the word “coax”. Here’s my take on it.
Coaxing Wisdom / Trembling Hopes
what’s truth,
what’s a hoax?
how do rumors
rise like smoke
seeping into
minds of folks?
what’s real,
or merely jokes?
which beliefs
become the yokes
that restless
anger stokes?
we cope
with trembling hopes
that wisdom
might be coaxed—
to stand
and speak
We live in troubled times.
We try our best to understand them and each other.
Wisdom is a window that can be opened if we work together.
That open window iis from a picture I took at Notre Dame, before the fire. It was less than a month after my Dad died in 2017 when I made this trek with colleagues, on a business trip, trying to stay awake on a Sunday arrival day in Paris before a week of workshops. What a gift! Wisdom, light, love and poured through that window, lifted my spirits and connected me to the eternal spirit and memory of my incredibly wise Dad.
Similarly, I hope for open windows and open minds to bring wisdom, light and love to guide our collective way along the path to healing and peace right now.
© 2025, Glover Gardens
Kim, I love your definition:
“coax”—a word that feels gentle, but not innocent.
Your entire post is enjoyable to behold. I know we can find wisdom if we approach each other from a place of love. Nothing else will do. Will we figure it out before it’s too late?
Approaching each other from a place of love sounds like heaven to me, Lisa.
<3
First, I adore the photograph it is contemplative of so much. I thoroughly enjoyed your poem and there is much wisdom in there to ponder as we move through these times.
Thank you! That window called to me to photograph it when I was there… I was in a very contemplative state after losing Dad just a few weeks before. I could literally feel him in that space.
Love the way your poem provokes one to think, Kim! 😀
Thank you, Carol.
I agree with all of the above!
Thank you for reading, Kim!
My pleasure, Kim!
All those lies… (and the get of jail card naming it a joke) is too well known today
You nailed it, Bjorn! A joke is not a joke if it wasn’t intended that way in the first place. That’s gaslighting.
The final stanza is so powerful and beautifully put. We so desperately need wisdom and compassion in our world today.
I loved how the rhyme scheme really drew me through the poem – coaxingly almost
Thank you! It was fun thinking of ways to rhyme with ‘coax’ that could fit the theme. I was on a business trip and alone in my hotel room that evening, so the writing of this poem was very relaxing and cathartic.
Very apt and pertinent thoughts indeed.
Thank you, Rosemary.
“trembling hopes
that wisdom
might be coaxed—”
I do hope so. There is so much misinformation (and deliberate disinformation) believed and shared. Both photos are beautiful. There are too many closed minds; we need more windows opening.
Merril, I think I might write another poem and call it Opening More Windows. Thank you for your affirming words.
You’re so welcome, Kim!
I like this. The rhymes worked well.
Thank you; I enjoyed the challenge.
I love this stanza
“which beliefs
become the yokes
that restless
anger stokes?”
And the picture is a poem all itself! 👏
Glad you liked them both!
Love that last line. Brings the poem together.
Thank you! I really wanted it to rhyme but couldn’t work it out, and perhaps that was for the best. That’s why my favorite word is serendipity.
That’s a good word.
That wisdom might be coaxed – yes indeed, the hope of generations, and right now a desperate need. Powerful words.
Thank you for your thoughtful reading.
My pleasure indeed KIm ❤️